Common behaviour problems in cats

If a cat deviates from its normal behaviour, it can be due to many different things. It is important to always first and foremost find the underlying cause of the behavioural change, which can be both physical or psychological.

Regardless of what behaviour problem a cat has, it is very important that you always make sure that your cat is healthy. Many behavioural problems stem from there being a physical underlying cause.

Behavioural changes can come from pain and discomfort such as from dental problems, joint problems, allergies, kidney and liver problems, hormonal disorders, stomach and intestinal problems.

Yes, a lot can be behind it. It is of the utmost importance that you always rule this out first before tackling the behaviour problem itself. Step one is to contact the vet.

Why has my cat's behaviour changed?

Many cat-related questions are about why cats display different behaviours that we perceive as aggressive, and the most common question; why has my cat stopped using it's litterbox?

Cats don't experience the feelings of aggression and anger as we humans do, they have a different emotional register.

It is easy for us to say that the cat is angry, sad and disappointed, but these are not really the cat's feelings. Usually it's us who projects our own feelings and interprets the cat's behaviour in our own way.

Problem behaviours, such as going to the toilet outside of the litterbox or being perceived as 'angry', often stem from one of a few things:

Your cat was taken from it's mother at too early of an age
There are too many cats in too little of a space
You cat isn't allowed outside

It can also be because cat owners partially lack knowledge about their animals or that the cat is given too little attention and therefore becomes under-stimulated and protests in some way.

Our guide on how to stimulate your cat has some useful tips to keep boredom at bay.

Did your cat leave it's mother too early?

A kitten should never be separated from its mother before the age of twelve weeks. The most important socialisation period in a cat's life is between the second and seventh weeks of life.

Kittens, raised alone, need extra understanding of how the cat works and how to respond to the cat's behaviour.

Remember, cats are predators

The cat, despite its domestication several thousand years ago, is deep down a predator. Those predatory instincts can lie just below the surface.

It is common to think that if a cat has never been outside, it doesn't know about all the stimulation there, or the behaviour it could display, and can't feel bad about missing out. However, this isn't true. A lot of a cats behaviour is instinctive, for example digging, hunting and territorial thinking.

Aggression is actually a defensive behaviour

Perhaps you recognise that your otherwise cosy, huggable feline friend turns into a tiger on the run. Then one should not counter-attack, but instead try to understand the underlying causes, which can otherwise trigger even more behavioural problems.

Many cat behaviour problems are a direct result of the cat's reaction to a stressful situation, much depending on how much the cat has learned during its earlier formative weeks of life.

All animals are normally equipped with a set of defence behaviours, which the species needs for its survival and the cat is no exception. It has an impressive arsenal of defences. In most cases, what we experience as aggression is precisely defensive behaviour. When a way out is closed, claws and teeth are put to use. This can many times be natural behaviour from the cat's side, as strange as it sounds.

Behaviour we perceive as aggression

Deflected (side-directed) aggression
Horror aggression
Claw and bite aggression
Pain aggression

Some behaviours that we perceive to be aggressive or destructive can actually be a natural instinct for cats.

For example, cats that scratch furniture and walls could just be grooming or marking their territory. But if it's a new behaviour, it's worth looking into and finding ways to adapt it - such as giving your cat a scratching post.

Multiple cat households may experience some conflict between cats - which might be a sign that there is competition for resources or attention.

Cats peeing outside of litter boxes could be doing so for behavioural reasons. But this may also be a physical issues. It's best to contact your vet so they can rule out any illness or pain, such as urinary tract disease.

What causes behaviour problems in cats?

Cats can hide issues and ailments, or suppress symptoms for a long time. It may also be that what we consider to be annoying behaviour is actually perfectly natural for a cat. Consider some of these reasons for your cat's behaviour problems:

Fear and anxiety

Your cat may have underlying problems that you need to identify and help them address. Signs of fear in your cat can be: frequent meowing, hiding, visible stress, scratching in the home and peeing outside of their letterbox.

Boredom and a lack of activity

Bored cats can easily become frustrated. You might find your cat scratching more of your items, attacking passing feet or waking you up in the night with meows. Cats need mental and physical stimulation just like we do. Think about ways you can play or stimulate your cat.

Separation anxiety

Cats can suffer from separation anxiety if they're left for long periods of time. This is not as common with cats as it is with dogs.

Check out our advice on how long to leave your cat alone for and things to consider if you plan on doing so.

Changes in routines

Cats are creatures of habit and can become stressed by changes to their routine. Consider how changes to your life or routine, or to your home environment may have affected your cat.

Destructive and disruptive behaviours in cats

Scratching furniture and walls

Cats can scratch furniture and walls as an expression of stress or frustration, but also as a completely normal behavior to groom their claws and mark their territory. It is important to identify the cause of this behavior if it has changed or is believed to be due to stress or the like, and to provide suitable scratching opportunities for claw care and territory marking on a daily basis.

Internal conflicts between cats

Cats can get into conflicts with each other, which can lead to fights and aggressive behavior that needs to be resolved to maintain harmony in the home. As owners need to ensure that there is as little competition for resources as possible and get help in identifying things that cause conflict.

Eating fabrics and biting cords

Some cats can develop dangerous behaviors such as eating fabrics or biting cords, which require immediate attention and help as they pose a high risk of injury.

Why does my cat pee or poop outside the litter box?

Another very common problem is that a cat can urinate in the house away from the litterbox. A cat that acts this way should be examined by a veterinarian as it may be due to physical and/or behavioral reasons. Illness and pain should therefore always be ruled out.

Here we list some common reasons why a cat pees outside the litterbox: